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Tumor suppressors and cell-cycle proteins in lung cancer.

The cell cycle is the cascade of events that allows a growing cell to duplicate all its components and split into two daughter cells. Cell cycle progression is mediated by the activation of a highly conserved family of protein kinases, the cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs).

CDKs are also regulated by related proteins called cdk inhibitors grouped into two families: the INK4 inhibitors (p16, p15, p19, and p18) and the Cip/Kip inhibitors (p21, p27, and p53).

Several studies report the importance of cell-cycle proteins in the pathogenesis and the prognosis of lung cancer. This paper will review the most recent data from the literature about the regulation of cell cycle.

Finally, based essentially on the data generated in our laboratory, the expression, the diagnostic, and prognostic significance of cell-cycle molecules in lung cancer will be examined.

The efficacy of nebulized salbutamol, hypertonic saline and salbutamol/hypertonic saline combination in moderate bronchiolitis.

The mainstay of treatment in bronchiolitis includes oxygenation, aspiration of secretions from the respiratory tract and maintenance of hydration. The first choice medical agent in clinical practice is nebulized bronchodilators, although their place in treatment is controversial.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the therapeutic benefit of nebulized hypertonic (3%) saline (HS), by comparing four different nebulized regimens in the treatment of bronchiolitis in the emergency department.

METHODS: A total of 120 infants were included in this randomized, double-blind, prospective study. Infants were grouped according to the nebulized treatment they received: group 1 - salbutamol + normal saline (NS), group 2 - salbutamol + HS, group 3 - HS, group 4 - NS. Heart beat, Clinical Bronchiolitis Severity Score (CBSS) and oxygen saturation of the patients were determined before and after the nebulizations and at 48-72 h after admission by the designated study physician.

RESULTS: Post-treatment mean CBSS were significantly lower than pre-treatment scores in all groups (p = 0.0001) with no significant difference within groups. Improvement percentages for CBSSs were significantly higher in infants without a history of atopy treated with HS and NS (p = 0.023, p = 0.0001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: The CBSSs of all the infants improved after three doses of nebulized therapy regardless of the treatment regimens. The combination of salbutamol with hypertonic saline did not lead to an additive effect in the improvement of CBSSs compared to the standard salbutamol + NS combination. Atopic children benefited from salbutamol/NS combination whereas non-atopic children improved with HS and NS nebulizations based on improvement percentages of CBSS.

Management of severe asthma exacerbation in children.

Asthma is a common disease in children and acute severe asthma exacerbation can be life-threatening. This article aims to review recent advances in understanding of risk factors, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of severe asthma exacerbation in children.

DATA SOURCES: Articles concerning severe asthma exacerbation in children were retrieved from PubMed. Literatures were searched with MeSH words "asthma", "children", "severe asthma exacerbation" and relevant cross references.

RESULTS: Severe asthma exacerbation in children requires aggressive treatments with β2-agonists, anticholinergics, and corticosteroids. Early initiation of inhaled β-agonists and systemic use of steroids are recommended. Other agents such as magnesium and aminophylline have some therapeutic benefits. When intubation and mechanical ventilation are needed, low tidal volume, controlled hypoventilation with lower-than-traditional respiratory rates and permissive hypercapnia can be applied.

CONCLUSIONS: Researchers should continue to detect the risk factors, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of severe asthma exacerbation in children. More studies especially randomized controlled trials are required to evaluate the efficacy and safety of standard and new therapies.

Interstitial lung diseases in Children.

Paediatr Respir Rev. 2011 Dec;12(4):215
Authors: Eber E

That ICS should be First Line Therapy for Asthma - Con.

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease and it is therefore unrealistic to expect that inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) would be appropriate first line preventer therapy for all children with asthma. There is good theoretical and clinical trial evidence demonstrating that leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) are more effective than ICS for viral induced wheezing and equivalent to ICS for mild persistent asthma in children.

LTRAS do not have the systemic adverse effects of ICS, are generally well tolerated and their once daily oral administration enhances adherence. LTRAs should therefore be first line preventer therapy for children with frequent intermittent or mild persistent asthma while ICS should be reserved as first line treatment for children with moderate to severe persistent asthma.

Given the skew in paediatric asthma severity towards the milder end, this effectively means that LTRAs should be tried first in 2 of every 3 children with asthma requiring preventer treatment.

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